Apparatus for detecting leaks in containers.



` .I J. ROGERS.

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING LEAKS IN CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 9.19I8.

J. ROGERS. APPARATUS FOR DETECTINGLEAKS IN'CONTAINERS.

lAPPLICATION FILED IULY 9,1918.

Patentd Mar. 11,1919.

4 SHEETSTSHEET 2.

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J. ROGERS.

APPARATUS FOR DETECNG LEAKS 1N CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9,1918.

1,296,699. Patented Mar. 11,1919;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. ROGERS. APPARATUS FOR DETECTING LEAKS IN CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9,19I8. 1,296,699. l Patented Mar.11,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 4I @4a/vento@ sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

JAMES ROGERS, OF DIXON, ILLINOIS, `ASSIGNOR T0 BORDENS CONDENSEDIVIIILK.` COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF' NEW JERSEY.

, APPARATUS non DETECTING LEAKs 1N CONTAINERS.

Application mea July e, 191s. seria1'N0.a44,13o.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatI, J AMES ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Dixon, county of Lee, State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Detecting Leaks inContainers, of which the following is a Specification. i Y

My invention relates to'that .well-known class of apparatus by aid 0fwhich leaks in cans, or other containers, are detectable by chargingthem with compressed air or other gas and submerging them, so charged,in water, or other transparent liquid, andthe objects of my inventioncomprise provision of means whereby the container is more readily,accurately and effectively than heretofore positioned, and carried, in,and more quickly and certainly discharged from, the apparatus, and,also, whereby issuance air through perforations capable lof causingleaks, is more extendedly and effectively secured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure'1 is an end viewv of the apparatusshowing the principal elements, principally in eleva.- tion, a few ofthem being in vertical section, a few partly broken away and a few dia-Fig. 5 is an end` view of the pneumatic head. Y

Fig. 6 is a partly sectional and partly diagrammatic view of parts shownin Fig. 4, but illustrating relative positions thereof while the can istemporarilyclosed and subjected to interior airpressure.

Fig. 7 is a detail View partly 1n plan, and partly in section on line 77 ofFig. 8"illus` trating the construction whereby the supply ofcompressed air to the cans is effected.

or top, View of the parts and particularly,. therefrom ofV compressedFig. 8 is a view, partly diagrammatic and partly in section on line 8-8of Fig.. 1 seen {Specication of Letters Patent. Pafeted Dial. 11,197,19*. v

in the direction of the arrow and illustrating elements contributingtothe carriage and. sealing of the can, to theV charging of it withcompressed air, and to its discharge from the apparatus. i

Fig.` 9 is, on enlarged scale, a fragmentary detail view illustrating,in perspective, the system of cams segregated and viewed ony the dottedline'9-9 of Fig. 1 from the direc-- tion ofthe arrow. f f Fig. 10 is afragmentary diagrammatic detail view, partly in section,illu-stratingone of my can ejectors, its operation and its relation tothe carrier, to the can, and to a delivery chute.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, on line 11-11 of Fig. 7 viewed in thedirection of. the

arrow.

The-apparatus comprises some instrumentalities vof well-known functionand character for thereinto feeding the container, in

this instance cylindrical cans, 12, ofusual type, having, in one'end, ortop, thereof the usual relatively small, therewith concentric, circular,opening, 121,f0r charge and discharge therethrough ofthe contents of thecan, anda therefrom longitudinally somewhat projecting, annular,peripheral, circumferential, edge, or flange, 12b, (Figs. 4 and 6,etc.). The apparatus further coinccf" prises the usual stationarilysupported tank, Y

13, (Fig. 1), containing water, W, or other transparent liquid, andprovided with a suitable discharge, 13a. It also comprisesinstrumentalities for therein locating vand clamp;- ing the thereintodelivered cans, for charging them with compressed air or gas, and forcarrying them, so charged, .in sequence .through the water in said tank,and thencek to suitable respective chutes into one of lwhich cans, fromwhich air s observedA to Y issue while in the water, are discharged,and, into the other, cans failing to thus indicate presence therein ofleaks.

Above the tank is stationarily supported,` in a suitable frame, A, ashaft, or spindle, y14, having a bushing, 14a, (Fig. 8) upon which issleeved, or rotatorily mounted, a carrier comprising a hub, 15, carryinga pluioo` rality of mutually parallel pairs of therefrom equidistantlyradially projecting alike rigid spokes, a one of said pairs and 17 theother (Fig. 8).

or arms.A 16 indicates each spoke of The hub is also journaled within asuitable stationary bearing, 18.. y j Y Fiach spoke, A16, carriesproximate its free end, a pneumatic head, 19, (Fig.v 8), dis- Y posed tobear, when required, against the top of a can circumferenti'ally of itstherein opening. This head embodies novel features hereinafterdescribed. Each opposite spoke, 17, carries, proximate yits free end, aclamping head, 20, (Fig. 8) ,disposed and actuated to, when required,clamp and hold a can between itself and the pneumatic head. Features ofthis clamping head will be hereafter *more fully described.. .The spokesof each. pair are, adjacent their free ends, connected by a transversebrace, 21, (Figs. 2 and 3), which serves alsoas a bracket, carrying aplate, 22, upon which falls a can when fed into the apparatus and bywhich it is, be-

tween the heads, .and by aid of lateral stationary guide plates, 23, and23a, carried by a stationary part of the frame, approximately positionedand loosely, though eiliciently, carried through those parts of itstrajectory in which it is not more positively held clamped between theheads. The parts thus referred to coact to produce, as it were, a pocketfor the can in the periphery of the carrier wheel, 'which thus carries aplurality of such alike pockets'equally spaced apart.

Thev hub, 15, also carries a peripherally Vgearedwheel, 24, meshing witha gear, 25,

carried by a shaft, 26, j ournaled in bearings carried by-a stationarypart of the frame. v

The shaft, 26, also carries a peripherally geared wheel, 27, meshingwith a gear, 28,

' carried by'a shaft, 29, likewise journaled in bearings carried by astationary part of the frame. The shaft V29 carries a pulley, 30, byvaid of which the'rotation is, as usual, iinpartedto the Carrier.

The clamping heads, 20, each comprise i (see Figs. 2 and 3) a circularhead-piece, 31,

disposed to bear against the bottom of a can.

VThe head piece is carried by one end of a Arod,'or block, 32, slidablyYmounted in a spoke 17, and a'thereby carried bracket, 33. Therod', orblock, carries a pivot, 32, Von which is oscillatably mounted one endo'f a link, ,34, the oppositeend of which is similarly mounted on apivot, 35, carried by a clamp-head, 35, lo'scillatably mounted on astud, 36, lcarried by a projectingv part of the bracket. Theclamp-headcomprises a therefrom downward extension, or hub, 35D, (Fig.2), and a-thereabove disposed arm 35C. In this hub and arm is slidablymounted and Vfrictionally helda pin, 37, having a shoulder,

37a. .The clamp-head, 35, also carries la handle 35d, by which theoperator can clamp, or unclamp, by hand, if required. It follows yfromthe construction described that when the clamp-head is swung, whether by`resistance'applied tothe hub, or to thepin,

or by force applied to the handle, the headpieceV will becorrespondingly.Y withdrawn from, or Vforced against the bottom of, a

vcan then positioned betweenit'and thepneul matic head. y y

. The pneumatic heads, 19, each comprises a withthe top of a can andcarrying an arm,

lor spindle, 38a, slidably mounted'in and carand to which referencewillV hereafter beV again made.

7e f Vhead-piece'proper, 38, disposed in alinement The voperative faceof the head-piece, 38, Y

has integral therewith and projecting therefrom, a circular, therewithconcentric, flange,

138e, (Fig. 4), 'thus forming therein a cir-A cular recess, or seat.-Within this seat isY fitted a disk, 40, (Fig. 4l), of compressibleresilient material such as rubber,'having a therefrom projecting,therewith integral, annular flange, forming a gasket,40a. rlhe disk, 40,is held in place withinthe recess by means of a screw, 41, threadedinthe head- Y piece, 38, and having therethrough an axialV boring, orduct, '41?, whereby passage is f afforded for compressed air from withinthe duct, 38C. It will be 'noted by Vreference to Fig. 6 that, as is ofimportance, the operative edge of the gasket, 40a, is, when the can ispositioned and clamped against it, located at a relatively considerabledistance from the projecting peripheral edge, or corner, of vthe can,and correspondingly near tothe opening thereof.

I provide a supplemental reciproc'atable guiding, protective, andejectory, head, 42,' (Fig. 41), normally interposed in the path of thecan while it is being clamped toward the pneumatic head.

This supplemental head, 42, I construct Y preferably in the form of anannular disk, as

shown, disposed concentrically with the gasket, 40a, and composed ofrelatively-nonvcompressible material such as metal.V It Visy providedwith thereby carried rods, 42a, in this instance three, which aremounted slidably respectively in perforations, 385, inthe headv piece,38, and are yeach encircled by Va spiral, expansile, spring, 43, lodgedin recess, 38g, chambered in said head-piece, and bearing at one endagainst it and at the other against the supplemental head to constantly,

yicldingly, impel the latter toward its said normal position in the pathof thecan, which' movement of the supplemental head is limited bywashers, 42h, and pins,42@, 'removably carried by the rods. v

The viiexible condu-ctors, 39, respectively lead to, and areconnectedwith, respective radially extending ducts, 15a, therefor boredin the hub, 15,' (Figs. 7, 8, 11), :and connectcoupled and connectingvwith avconductorpipe, 46, extending to a source of compressed air, notYshown. Thus, as the car-V r rier is rotatedfand the ducts, 15a, 15b, are

thereby brought momentarily into register with the duct, 45, or withlfatherewith communicating recess, 45, (Fig. 7), chambered in the bushing,44, compressed air w-illpass therefrom intothe `pneumatic heads and soon intol'rtheV cans which are .then clamped against them. f

A cam, 47, (Fig. 9), carriedstationarily by a part of the'frame of theVapparatus, projects a convexly curved operative surface into the pathofthe hub, 35", of the clamphead, 35, then open, whereby'l the Ylatteris turned to close the clamp and thus force the top of the canair-tightly against the gasket, 40a, of the pneumatic head. f

' A.' usual inclined chute, 48, comprisingY usual lateral guide-rails,48a, (Fig. 1) is charged -with thev cans, the tops of which arepositioned to face the spectator viewing Fig. 1. Down thischute the cansroll by aid ofgravity andv each drops, in'turn, Vupon one of the thenthereto, by rotation of the carrier, presented plates, 22', and be-Vtween' the then unclamped-together heads.

As the rotation continues, the can advances between the lateralguide-plates, 23, 23a, and by aid ofthe combined influence of all thesedevices it becomes sufficiently posi'- tioned and centered.

As the'rotation proceeds the cam, 47 ,isencounteredby the hub, 35, andthe can is thereby clampedbetween the heads asi-above described. Furtherrotation ofthe carrier brings the ducts, 15a, and 15b temporarily intocommunication with the duct, 45, while theY can is submerged in thewater, W. AtV

this stage any leak in the can will be indicated by air bubbles risingtherefrom through the water. VOn observing these, the operator itoutwardly into abnormal projection beyond the hub, 35h, indicated `bydotted lines in Fig. 2. Y y' The continued rotation` of the carrierbrings the pin,`37, into contact with the convexly curvedoperativeisur'face of a releasing' cam, 49, (Figs. land- 9),stationarily carried by la part of the'frame. "By this cam',dispositioned vto so contact an Aabnormally but not anormally projectingpin, the clamphead, 355,'is swung, thus-opening the clamp, whereupon thespring" tensioned }supple mentalhead, 42, isffreed topusli vthe can andthe lateral guide plates.

`relatively loosely y"held .status between the.v

plate, 22,- thepneumatic and clampingheads Thence the rotationof thecarrier next'brings the can v into contact withthe convexly curvedoperativesurface, 50"?, of the free end of an.oscil latablecounter-weighted lever, or kicker, 50,

i (Fig. 10), which normally, as :indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10,projectsv slightly into thek path ofthe canthrough asuitable opening23", therefor, in thelateral guide plates, 23a. Thekicker, 50, isoscillatably mountedon apivot, 50h, carriedby. an arm', 51, carried bythel stationary bearing,` 18, (Fig. 8). A counter-weight, 50c, iscarried by the kicker. `An opening, 23, in the guide r plate, 23,permeable by the can, leads to a delivery chute, `52, for the, at thisstage, as, aforesaid, unclamped, imperfect cans. As a can in itsprogression bearsagainst the operative surface of the kicker Vit crowdsand raises the latter vuntil the can arrives opposite 'the opening 23C,at which. point the` resistance afforded by the guide plate,

23, havingl ceased, the influencej'of the counter-weight is exerted andthe imperfect Y can is automatically, `and with required y force', shotout `of the apparatus, through the opening, and-onto the chute, 52,whence itproceeds'to wherever may be desired.

As'to the perfect cans, these are, while still clamped,` carried pastthe opening, 23,

after which the hub, 35", of Vthe-then `closed s (Fig. 9)Y similar, incounter, function, and

yrelative disposition, to the cam 49, wherebyV the clamp-head,V35,Kishswung to unclamp the-can which is thereafter carried in the samemanner as were'thefi-mperfect cans, to

3 To restore the abnormally projected pins '1 to their normal positionsin their respective y and havingan inclinedoperative face disdeflnitely.

In previous apparatuses for the purposes described, the compressible, orsealing, portions of the pneumatic heads have beenso' proportioned andlocatedas to bear not only clampihead vencounters another cam, 53, y l

contact with another kicker, 54, (Fig. 1),'105

similar to the kicker, 5 0, ywhich similarly hubs, 35", I provide yacam, 56, (Figs. 1 and 9), carried by a stationary part of the framestrikes the head ofV the' pin, 37, thus driving l lposed in the path ofthe projecting end of said pins. Thence continued rotation oftheAcarrier again bringsl the heads and their ac- 1 against an extendedsurface of thetop of the can, butalso against its projecting peripheraledge, 12b, thereby blanketing therein' Alocated per'forations, or leaklholes, if any,

contact lthe bottom of the can; normally intermediate said heads anannulartherewith concentric spring-tensioned supplemental head havingits operative edge normally disposed in advance of said pneumatic headand means to cause said two irst mentioned heads to clamp the canbetween them.

4. In an apparatus for detectingleaks in containers, means to clamp acontainer, comprising a head carrying anannular compressible gasket; athereto oppositely disposed therewith concentric and coperating axiallyreciprocatable clamping head; means to supply compressed air to withinsaid gasket; and an annular therewith concentric axially reciprocatablesupplemental head composed4 of comparatively non-compressible material Ydisposed externally of said gasketl and nor- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five mally intermediate said heads in thepath` of thecontainer while it is being impelled by said clamping-head toward saidgasket. t

5, In an apparatus for detecting leaks in containers, means to thereinclamp a 00ntainer, said means comprisinga pneumatic head7 a theretooppositely disposedreciprocatable clamping-head coperatingtherewitl1,.and a yielding supplemental head reciprocatable inparallelism with said clampingV head and having its operative surfacenormally ldisposed in a plane intermediate said two first named heads.

JAMES ROGERS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT BoRsT, EMIL KING.

cents each, by addressing theommis'sioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

